Hair styling device

ABSTRACT

A hair styling device includes two clipping elements pivotally coupled together at one end, a spring member may bias the clipping elements toward each other, and two handles are pivotally coupled to the clipping elements and foldable relative to the clipping elements to an unfolding position where the clipping elements may be moved away from each other against the spring member by the handles, and the handles may be folded relative to the clipping elements to a folding position where the handles may not be contacted inadvertently and thus for preventing the hair styling device from being operated inadvertently.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hair styling device, and more particularly to a hair styling device having one or more foldable or receivable hand grips or handles for allowing the hair styling device to be folded to a compact folding configuration and for preventing the hair styling device from being operated inadvertently.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical hair styling devices, such as hair clips, hair barrettes, ornamental hair fillets, hair bundles, hair brushes, tail holders, hair clasps or the like comprise two branches or clip members for engaging onto the hair of the users and for styling or organizing the hair of the users.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,912 to Chou discloses one of the typical hair barrettes comprising two arcuate elongate members pivotally coupled together with a pivot pin at one end thereof and detachably latched together at the other end portion thereof. However, the typical barrettes have no handles or hand grips extended therefrom such that the typical barrettes may not be easily operated by the users.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,166 to Chang discloses another typical hair clip also comprising a pair of clipping elements or clip pieces for attaching onto the hair of the users and also pivotally coupled together with a pivot pin at one end, and the clip pieces include a clipping end provided on the other end thereof and engageable with each other for detachably coupling the clipping ends of the clip pieces together.

However, similarly, the typical hair clip have no handles or hand grips extended therefrom such that the typical barrettes or hair clip also may not be easily operated by the users.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,814 to Potut discloses a further typical hair clip combination comprising two elongate branches hinged together at one end and separably fastenable together at the other end thereof, and the elongate branches each include an outwardly opened or extended lateral edges for forming or acting as a handle or hand grip for allowing the typical hair clip to be easily operated by the users.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional hair styling devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a hair styling device having one or more foldable or receivable hand grips or handles for allowing the hair styling device to be folded to a compact folding configuration and for preventing the hair styling device from being operated inadvertently.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a hair styling device comprising two clipping elements for attaching onto a hair of a user and including a first end pivotally coupled together with a pivot pin, a spring member engaged with the clipping elements for biasing and forcing the clipping elements toward each other, and two handles pivotally coupled to the clipping elements respectively and foldable relative to the clipping elements to an unfolding and working position where the clipping elements are moveable away from each other against the spring member by the handles, and the handles being foldable relative to the clipping elements to engaged with the clipping elements to a folding and receiving position where the handles may not be actuated inadvertently.

The clipping elements each include an opening formed therein for foldably receiving the handles respectively and having a shape identical to that of the handles for snugly receiving the handles.

The clipping elements each include a pivot shaft engaged into the opening of the clipping elements respectively for pivotally coupling the handles to the clipping elements respectively. The pivot shaft is disposed parallel to the pivot pin.

The handles each include at least one lock notch formed therein for detachably engaging onto the pivot shaft and for pivotally coupling the handles to the clipping elements respectively. The lock notches of the handles include a C-shaped configuration.

The handles include a U-shaped configuration having two legs and having the lock notch formed in the legs. The clipping elements each including a second end having a number of comb teeth formed therein for engaging onto the hair of the user.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a hair styling device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hair styling device, in which the handles of the styling device are folded at a folding or receiving structure or position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hair styling device in which the handles of the hair styling device are opened at an unfolding or working structure or position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrating the other application of the hair styling device; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 illustrating the further application of the hair styling device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a hair styling device 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises two arcuate clip pieces or clipping elements 10, 11 for attaching onto the hair of the user, the clipping elements 10, 11 include one end or first end 12 pivotally coupled together with a pivot pin 13 and a torsional spring member 14 which may be engaged with or between the clipping elements 10, 11 to bias or force the other ends or the second ends 15 of the clipping elements 10, 11 toward each other. The clipping elements 10, 11 each include one or more comb teeth 16 formed or provided on the other ends 15 thereof for engaging onto the hair of the users and for styling or organizing the hair of the users. The comb teeth 16 of the clipping elements 10, 11 are offset from each other for allowing the comb teeth 16 to be stably engaged onto the hair of the users.

The clipping elements 10, 11 each include an opening 17 formed therein and offset or spaced away from the comb teeth 16 of the clipping elements 10, 11, and a pivot shaft 18 engaged into the opening 17 of each of the clipping elements 10, 11 and located closer to the one end 12 of the clipping elements 10, 11 and preferably parallel to the pivot pin 13. One or more (such as two) hand grips or handles 20, 21 include such as a U-shaped structure or configuration having a C-shaped lock notch 22 formed in each of the two legs 23 thereof for detachably engaging onto the pivot shaft 18 and for pivotally coupling the handles 20, 21 to the clipping elements 10, 11 respectively. The C-shaped lock notches 22 of the handles 20, 21 may be engaged onto the pivot shaft 18 and may also be selectively disengaged from the pivot shaft 18 when required. The shapes or the contours of the opening 17 of the clipping elements 10, 11 are preferably identical to that of the handles 20, 21 for suitably or snugly receiving the handles 20, 21.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 3, the handles 20, 21 may be opened or rotated or unfolded relative to the clipping elements 10, 11 respectively to an unfolding or working structure or position at which the clipping elements 10, 11 may be forced or moved away from each other against the torsional spring member 14 by the handles 20, 21 for allowing the clipping elements 10, 11 to be easily operated by the users. On the contrary, when it is not required to use the handles 20, 21 or to operate the clipping elements 10, 11, the handles 20, 21 may be rotated or folded and engaged into the openings 17 of the clipping elements 10, 11 or engaged with the clipping elements 10, 11 respectively to a folding or receiving structure or position at which the handles 20, 21 are suitably received within the clipping elements 10, 11 and will not be operated or contacted by the other people inadvertently.

As shown in FIG. 4, the hair styling device 1 may further include one or more (such as two) hand grips 24 extended from such as the clipping elements 10, 11 respectively for allowing the clipping elements 10, 11 to be actuated or operated or forced or moved away from each other against the torsional spring member 14 by the hand grips 24 selectively or alternatively. As shown in FIG. 5, the hair styling device 1 may include the pivotal handles 25, 26 having the other decorative shapes or contours and may further include one or more further decorative perforations 27 formed therein. The pivotal handles 25, 26 may also be selectively folded and engaged into the opening 17 of the clipping elements 10, 11 at the folding or receiving structure or position where the handles 20, 21 will not be operated or contacted by the other people inadvertently.

Accordingly, the hair styling device in accordance with the present invention includes one or more foldable or receivable hand grips or handles for allowing the hair styling device to be folded to a compact folding configuration and for preventing the hair styling device from being operated inadvertently.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A hair styling device comprising: two clipping elements for attaching onto a hair of a user and including a first end pivotally coupled together with a pivot pin, a spring member engaged with said clipping elements for biasing and forcing said clipping elements toward each other, and two handles pivotally coupled to said clipping elements respectively and foldable relative to said clipping elements to an unfolding and working position where said clipping elements are moveable away from each other against said spring member by said handles, and said handles being foldable relative to said clipping elements to engaged with said clipping elements to a folding and receiving position where said handles may not be actuated inadvertently.
 2. The hair styling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clipping elements each include an opening formed therein for foldably receiving said handles respectively.
 3. The hair styling device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said openings of said clipping elements include a shape identical to that of said handles for snugly receiving said handles respectively.
 4. The hair styling device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said clipping elements each include a pivot shaft engaged into said opening of said clipping elements respectively for pivotally coupling said handles to said clipping elements respectively.
 5. The hair styling device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pivot shaft is disposed parallel to said pivot pin.
 6. The hair styling device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said handles each include at least one lock notch formed therein for detachably engaging onto said pivot shaft and for pivotally coupling said handles to said clipping elements respectively.
 7. The hair styling device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said at least one lock notch of said handle includes a C-shaped configuration.
 8. The hair styling device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said handles include a U-shaped configuration having two legs and having said at least one lock notch formed in said legs.
 9. The hair styling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clipping elements each including a second end having a plurality of comb teeth formed therein for engaging onto the hair of the user. 